Improvement in thermometers



L. C. TOWER.

Thermometer.

Patented July 2, 1867.

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LEWIS o. TO ER, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 66,266, dated July 2, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN THERMOMETERS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I LEWIS C. Towns, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Thermometers; and I do hereby declare that the followingis afull and exact description thereof, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification v Figure 1 isan elevation of my improved thermometer.

Figure 2, a section of the same.

Figure 3, an elevation of a modification, showing the frame wired.

Figure 4, a section of'the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures. v

1 My invention consists, essentially, in cor'rugating or stamping theframe so as to produce greater stiffness and strength; also, inproviding a groove or socket for the reception of the bulb and tube, sothat the same will be sunk flush with the surface of the frame in front,and be protected by the metal in the rear; and, furthermore, in theemployment of a shield over the bulb, which is made to slide up so as toallow the bulb to be' inserted in any liquid to indicate the temperaturewithout wetting the shield. V 7

As represented in the drawings, A is the frame to support the ordinarytube B and bulb a. This frame is struck up or stamped by dies, so as toform corrugations-b b b longitudinally, as clearly shown in figs. 1 and2. In the centre is struck a groove or socket, c, of a formcorresponding with that of the tube and bulb, which are sunk thereinflush with the surface. The frame is provided with a convex shield, at,which rests over the bulb in front. I make this shield to adjust up anddown in slotsff cut longitudinally through the frame, orin someequivalent manner.

It is found necessary to make the frames of thermometers very stifl', asa slight bend or spring is sufficient to break the slender glass tubeattached thereto. To insure this stiffness, ordinary thermometers aremade of a case, in which rests a slide having the glass tube attached,and on which the scale is cut. The frame is thus made up of two parts,and is expensive, and besides, is difiicult to keep clean. .1 form myframe of but a single piece of sheet metal, which is made suflicicntlystiff to prevent springing by the corrugations, as before described.With the sides thus struck out, the frame will resist any ordinarystrain and serve as a complete protective to the brittle stem of glass.This form is exceedingly simple andefi'ective, and I thus avoid thegreat expense of a frame which is made of parts and must he solderedtogether. Being thusin asingle plain piece, the frame'is in condition tobe inserted in any liquid, such as cream, and can be easily cleaned,which is not the case with the ordinary frame; The inserting of theglass tube and bulb in the groovec not only preserves it from injury infront, by sinking it beneath the surface, but also on the back, bypresenting an enclosed bed of the metal. In ordinary thermometers thebulb rests in a hole bored through the support. The shield d not onlyserves as a protection to the bulb in front, but by making it to slideup,-it enables me to insert the bulb and the lower part of the tube inany liquid to test the temperature without wetting the shield; and,since the frame is plain andjn a single piece, as before described, itis very easily cleaned. In ordinary. thermometers a substitute for theshield is made in the form of a fixed box at the bottom, which extendsabove the bulb; but such devices cannot be inserted in liquid, as beforedescribed, without filling the box; neither can it be placed out ofdoors in snowy weather without filling with snow., For some uses Iprefer to wire the edges of the frame, as indicated in figs. 3 and 4. Inthis form it is easily handled in-inserting in liquid. It is obviousthat the edges of the frame may be bent out to give additionalstili'ness with a similar effect.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byfLctters Patent, is

1. A thermometer whoseframe is made from a single piece of sheet metal,corrugated, as described, to give it stifi'uess, and provided with agroove and socket to receive the tube and bulb, substantially as hereinset forth.

2. The combination of the sliding shield 01 with the frame A and bulb a,as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

G. TOWER.

Witnesses:

R. F. Osooon, CnAaF. Srnn'cnn.

